Robert J. Vance

In Memory of

Robert J. Vance

August 13, 1937 - January 4, 2018

Robert James Vance of Greenville, SC, passed away on January 4, 2018, in the comfort of his home surrounded by his family after a long battle with cancer. He was born August 13, 1937, in Cleveland, Tennessee, to William H. Vance and America Mae Golden. He attended Bradley Central High School. At nineteen in Cleveland, Ohio, at Madison Avenue Baptist Church, he came to know the Lord as his Savior. He then determined to invest his life in sharing this newfound joy with others. With the intention to pursue full time ministry, he earned a BA in Bible with a minor in Speech from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. In college years, Bob met and married the love of his life, Aloha Lea Wills. They recently celebrated their 54th anniversary this last month.

Bob and Aloha joined Baptist Mid-Missions to work as church planters in 1965. They served in St.Lucia, West Indies; Honokaa and Hilo, Hawaii; Pukalani, Maui; Abbotsford, British Columbia, along with short-term mission station supply in Scotland, Finland, Ireland, Alaska and Ontario, Canada. In fifty-two years of ministry Bob pastored twelve churches. During these years, Bob and Aloha discipled and loved on the people in the places where they worked. While encouraging national pastors to pastor their own churches, he individually discipled men to be spiritual leaders, first in their homes and then in their churches. He preached, and taught Sunday classes. For several years Bob served as the Chairman of the Windward Island Field Council in the Caribbean and Chairman for the Hawaii Field Council. Bob built several church buildings in St. Lucia and a multi-purpose building in Hilo, Hawaii. Because of their efforts the ministry of AWANA was initiated in the state of Hawaii. He expressed his love for art through chalk talks and painting several baptistries. Other interests include golf and coffee with friends.

Following intense years of church building, Bob pursued additional education. Although he only had a GED when he came to know the Lord, his voracious love for God’s Word established him as a learned man. In his later years he earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling from Luther Rice Seminary. With his last Master’s degree he marched with honors with a 4.0 GPA.

Robert Vance is survived by his wife of 54 years, Aloha Vance; his children and their spouses, Tim and Leah (Vance) Simpson, Nathan and Shannon Vance, Rob and Daphne (Vance) Reichard and Titus and Diane Vance; fourteen grandchildren, Timothy Jr., Carissa, Katie, Wil, Mikayla, Adriana, Joshua, Elise, Joseph, Piper, Piers, Shiloh, Moriah and Silas, along with two new grandsons-in-law, Corey and Zach. He is also survived by one sister, Peggy Geren, and one brother, Carl Vance.

His love for his family and friends was surpassed only by his love for his Lord. A Celebration Service will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018, at 2pm at Calvary Baptist Church, 3810 Grandview Dr, Simpsonville, SC 29680.

In lieu of flowers please give in honor of Bob Vance to Abundant Grace International, 477 Haywood Rd, Greenville, SC 29651 or to Grace Baptist Church in Hilo, Hawaii. Please send to Grace Baptist Church, 2575 Kilauea Ave, Hilo, HI 96720. Gifts to will be used to buy a needed pulpit and communion table.